Nigeria’s Kidnapping Issue: Fear of Reporting

Parents in Niger are terrified after over 300 children were abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri on November 21. Many parents, fearing reprisals from the kidnappers, are reluctant to speak out, while about 250 children remain missing. This incident is part of a troubling trend of mass abductions in Nigeria, driven by criminal gangs seeking ransom. Communities are increasingly negotiating with bandits for peace, but the situation remains dire.